Method of and device for closing up vessels, especially bottles



May 28, 193.5. 2,003,091 METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR CLOSING UP VESSELS, ESPECIALLY BOTTLES R. REMY 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28, 1931 [NVeN T 6 R. Remy May 28, 1935. R. REMY METHOD OF AND DEVICE EOR CLOSING UP VESSELS, ESPECIALLY BOTTLES Filed May 28, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG. 4.

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May 28, 1935. .R. REMY 2,003,091

METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR CLOSING UP VESSELS, ESPECIALLY BOTTLES Filed May 28, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z E l i /Z w- .1 I, l :1 1: {'1 I: I n I: I]

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R. REMY May 28, 1935.

METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR CLOSING UP VESSELS, ESPECIALLY BOTTLES Filed May- 28, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 28, 1935. R. REMY METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR CLOSING UP VESSELS, ESPECIALLY BOTTLES Filed May 28; 193 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J0 22512 for:

51. fie 'ly Patented May 28, 1935 ow ng-o fsrAr-Es METHOD OF DEVICE FOR CLOSING. UP VESSELS, ESPECIALLY BOTTLES Rudolf Remy, Munich,

Germany, assignor .to

WillyFaltlha-user, Munich, Germany.

:ApplicationMay 28, '1931, Serial No. 540,749 In Germany June-2, 1930 v 22 Claims.

staining: ring therefor-{to areceptacle in a single x-operation. While my invention may be employed 1 for applying various types of closures and retaining rings to receptacles, it. is particu- ":larly adapted for main applying caps or clostures and retaining rings such as those described in the co-pending application of I Wilhelm --'Mauser, Serial No. 480,234, filed September-6,

, Heretofore, it has been the practice to apply "caps and retaining rings of the type referred to above to receptacles, in a series of operations by whichthe cap is first expanded, then placed on the receptacle, contracted, and the retaining applied thereto. This :series of operatiom 1's ordinarily .performed in aplurali'ty of sepa- -rate steps and. in separate machines, each of'. which-is independently operable. The machines I or tools employed for this purpose are expensiveand considerable power is; expended in operating'the several machines. 'Because of the separation of the operations into a plurality ofsteps ---and the-useof independent machines for each step, there naturally is an'increased number of iailures -and stoppages of the operation due to.

Ethefact that an accident-may occur in any one of a number of machines .whenevera cap or a .re-taining ring is displaced. Wear, upkeep and ,replacem'entswhich occur in-the maintenance of several such machines are also troublesome'and expensive.

In accordance with the present invention, disadvantages and difiiculties inherent in the prior art are overcome by providing novel apparatus and methods of=procedure In the apparatus embodying my invention the caps and retaining rings are preferably fed into position "beneath a plunger or-abutment withthe retaining rin located above the cap in position to be applied. Thereafter either thereceptacle is moved toward an abutment or the..plunger is moved toward the receptacleinto position ,to affix the cap to i the receptacle. During this movement the cap, which isfed to the apparatus contracted, is preferably caused-to expand to facilitate applying the same. By expanding the cap immedia-tely prior to positioning the same on the receptacle, the-packing carried by the cap is prevented from falling-out of place or being lost and the caps are presented in condition for readyapplication. 1 also provide members for holdingthe cap-and retaining ring after theyhave been afiixed to the receptacle. ;W ith t he apparatus described, these operations are effected in a single step during a singlemovement of the plunger or receptacle whereby steps-herefied' and improved and the whole procedure carried out in one operation. t

It is an object of the present invention-:to overcome diiilculties and disadvantages ofthe prior art and to provide simple and inexpensive apparatus and methods whereby both the cap and the retaining ring therefor maybe applied to a receptacle ina, single operationand by means of a single machine. 5

Another object of the-invention istolprovide ;means for expanding-the caps immediately prior to the application thereof to'the receptacle.

Other objects of theinvention are to,.provide means for positioning the cap and the retaining ring with respect to -a plunger. means or which the sameare ceptacle; to providemeans forholding and releasing the cap and retaining ring at'Ipredeteror abutment by means for centering. these elements with respect tothe' plunger orabutment so as; to avoid"dislocation thereof whenb'eingapplied. 1 7

Another object of the invention is to. provide drive mechanism for the .al paratus lde-.

mitting proper feedofthe caps'and retaining rings and the proper application thereof I to lie- .ceptacles. V Y f .These and other objects'and features "of my invention will appear from the following i'description thereof, in which -'referenceii'isl,made to the figures of the drawirigswhichillustrate typical embodiments thereof.

,In the drawings',"Fig. 1 isia longitudinal, sec. 'tional view through av portion of -aihand'lop-' erated .deviceshowing an abutment andfe'ed channels for the capsla'nd retaining rings.

Fig.2 is a longitudinal, sectional 'view'taken at right angles to the view 'shown in"Fig. 1.,

Fig; 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of fa hand" operated machine embodying the. ieatures pf Figs. 1 and 2. i 1

Figge is a front view ofa form 'of'fappa'ratus "designed for power operation.

lg. 5, is a side vie' apparatus shown in Fig.4. I J

Fig.6 is a verticaljsectional view throu'ghiithe upperv portion of the apparatus shown in Q'Fi'gs. 4 and 5, illustrating. a plunger and holding mem-q tofore carried out in'several operationsand-by applied to a. re-

mined stages ofthe "operation,- andtofprovide.

the use of several machines or tools are simplisigned to be continuously operated, but per- .50' partly n. sect on of the hers for the cap and retaining. ring i'n f'their Fig. 8 is a vertical, sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 6 showing the feed channels for the caps and retaining rings.

fFig. 9 is a horizontal section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8 taken through the feed channel for the retaining rings. 1

Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. 8, with the plunger as it appears in its lowered or applying position.

Fig. 11 illustrates a modificationof the plunger structure and holding membersshown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken through the feed channel for the caps shown in Fig. 10.

. v Fig. 13 illustrates one of the cam elements carried by the plunger for preventing caps in the feed channel from interfering with the operation of the plunger. r r Fig. 14 is a vertical section through the feed channel for the caps.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is designed for hand operation and embodies a feed channel'a; through which the caps A are introduced into position to' be applied to a receptacle. A feed channel I) through which retaining rings Bare passed is located directly j er or receptacle into position above the feed channel a so as to feed a retaining ring into position above the closure and beneath zan abutment c/The abutment c is provided with a bearing surface against which the cap and retaining ring are pressed by theupward movement of the receptacle to which they are to be applied. The abutment is provided with downwardly extending holding members d in the form of spring pressed arms provided'with inwardly extending projections d and d". for holding-the retaining ring andthe cap respectively in po sition.

Closures or caps of the type referred to particularly herein are ordinarily provided with a packing member which is looselyinserted in the cap when the cap is expanded. Thereafter the cap is closed to prevent the packing from dropping out during shipping storage of the caps. vIn view thereof,'it is usually desirable to expand each cap before it is applied to the receptacle, and it is desirable that the expanding of the cap shall take place immediately prior to the application of the cap to the receptacle'in order that, the packing will not drop out during the movement of the plungto apply the cap. Although in some instances it is possible to apply the cap to a receptaclewithout previously expanding the cap, this procedure may deform the claws by which the cap is secured in place on the receptacle and therefore'l prefer to expand the cap before applying the same. For this purpose the abutment is provided with a centrally located openingmember 0 adapted to be moved downwardly to engage the top of the cap and expand the same prior to applying it to a receptacle. The upper end of the opening member is pivotally'secured at e to an operating lever for actuating the'same. A spring the upper end of the rod 0 and the operating lever to maintain the T expanding 'member'normally in its raised position to permit the insertion of the caps and retaining ringsinto engagement; with the hold- It may be desirable at times to to the holding members in open' position, especially when the packing member;

ing members. feed the caps is glued or otherwise secured firmly to the under side of the cap or if no packing is used.

cap is to be applied, is positioned beneath the abutment and supported upon a platform adaptedto' be moved upwardly by means of a lower operating lever connected to the platform through the pivoted connection 1.

' In the operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a contracted cap is fed into engagement with the holding members at d" through the feed channel a. Similarly, a pre-formed retaining ring B is fed into engagement with the holding members at d above the cap A through the feed channel I). A bottle to which the cap is to be applied is placed on the movable platform beneath the abutment c and is moved upwardly by means of the lower operating lever to bring the top of the bottle into engagement first the cap whereby the cap is ,sprung open to allow it to seat easily upon the top of the bottle.

-As the bottle continues to move upwardly,it carries-the cap therewith into engagement with the retaining ringwhich bearsagainst the periphery of the expanded cap, causing the same to close or contract about the top of the bottle, and finally brings the closure and retaining 'ring forcibly against the bearing surface 0' of the abutment c. The bearing surface preferably is shaped to conform with the top of the cap when affixed to the bottle and is formed with a concave surfaceto permit the top of the cap to be bowed upwardly while the edges of the abutment bear forcibly against the edge of thecap and the retaining ring. The'upper lever may be slightly raised to permit ready closing of the cap if desired, although the action of the retaining ring, in being forced down about the cap will insure closing thereof. After the cap and retaining ring have been properly seated and af- 'fixed to the bottle, the lower lever is released and the upper lever-further depressed to force the bottle with the cap and retaining ring'firmly seated thereon, downwardly out of engagement with the holding members (1. The bottle is then moved from the platform and another placed other receptacle.

The structure above described is simple and inexpensive to construct'and operate, and insures the proper application of a cap or closure and a retaining ring'to bottles, receptacles and the like. It will be apparent that the caps and retaining rings may be introduced from opposite sides of the abutment, and if preferred; the abutme'nt may be moved toward the receptacle as in.

the forms of the invention hereafter described. In the structure illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the apparatus is designed for power operation and is provided with a rotatable driving shaft g to which is secured a crank having a link h connected thereto provided with a vertically movable sleeve 2'. The sleeve slides along an operating rod l to which is secured a bushing m by means of which the operating-rod'is raised for lifting the plunger 0. A spring is or other 2 agoosgoo 1 rename: means isxprovid'ed: between fthei sleeve i i' .iandithe bushingrmrtofpermit continued rotation ":ofthe-Jsh'af t after Jthe'rod' .l h'as' reached f-the ilimit ofa'iits 1 upper movement. -.rrh'e bushing 'm 5 ca'rried by 'the rod Z is adapte'd to engagelan :a'butment n :carried' by the. frame' which determines l the :upper limit of lmovement of the oper-. ating rod. 1 The operatingrod-and plunger are -freely movablewdownward' by gravity or under lo theinfiuencepf suitable additional weight carried thereby and are limited in the'ir downward movement i by engagement of the plunger with the I recepta'cle. This freedom of movement "renders it possible toemploy the-apparatus. in applying- 15 oaps-or closures-to either tall or short'receptacles without adjustment of the apparatus.

This arrangement of the drive mechanism for.

raised into position to receive a capcand a retain-' 2'0ing ring from the feed mechanism employed, and

by reason of the lost' motionconnection'between the'driveshaft and the operating rod, suffioient 'Ltime isallo'wed to permit the cap and the retaining ring to -be-positionedbeneath the plunger before the plunger E-begins its downward movement. Furthermore, the free-movement of the sleevei with respect tothe'rod Zpermits the operating rod-to descend freely until I the plunger 'is' brought into engagement with the 'top of the receptacle. "I'hereaftenthe sleevei moves freely along the" operating rod -with'outexerting any 1 force thereon. Thusithe plunger is caused to descend into engagement withthe-top of a --'bottle or other receptacle with the same force the plunger when the plunger is 'moved u .;-'.;35

. iirrespectiv 0f the sizeor shape-of the receptacle. It is -apparent; however, that the weight carried bythe operating rod-and plunger may be varied "if desired foruse with different receptacles. 'Theupperportionfiof the frame ris provided with suitable feed mechanism including the feed ich'annels s connected through =the channelst -to' assorting wheels n positioned adjacent the hoppers w to which the caps or closures and retaining rings are supplied, The assertingwheels i may be of any 'well known I type and Jare driven from a common drive shaf-t v actuated by' the shaft at. In the consti -uction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 1 10, the plunger .0 is movable within a guide" qww which the feed" channel s forzthe caps and the channels for the retaining rings are connected on qdiametrically opposite "sides. Supporting pieces M are secured tor the guide below the channels 's and s fto' supportthe caps and retaining rings being fed into position ben'eathrthe plunger "and to prevent the caps from itipping over 1 or jamming between 1.the plunger and the guide -theref'or. -The;.plunger *is provi'ded with holding'members D pivotally secured ither'eto Candi 1 extending idownwar'dly below the lower face of the plunger. Thesemembers are provi'ded "with supporting shoulders'D upon which 'the cap and -'retainingz"iring, rest 1 when fedL intoi position. 'Iheiholding members are also 1 provided with inclined? shoulders E above thespace provided for :the cap :and retaining :ring for a; purpose hereinafter described. When operating the appara'tusrat high speed for a large output, the -supporting shoulders: of the holding members upon which. the'cap and re-' 'itaining ring. :rest 'arei preferably horizontal; altlio'ugh"inclined-supporting shoulders "may of courselbeiused. V r x V 25.111 ithe ioperation x'if the plunger, the downe mward movement" or the ioperating rodi l,--causes :the plunger; together 'with ntheholding membersi carrying the cap and ':the retaining ring,

: to be moved I into' position 'to apply ithe "same "to a'receptacle. Theloweriends of the holding members are. providedtwithiinclined faces which 5 tl-uponaengagement with the top ofwthe receptacle .cause the holding members to :be spread .outwardly soias'to deposit the cap in place upon 1 the .itop. of the bottle or receptacle. -'As the Lplunger continues to move "downwardlyythe' cammo :suriaceSE of the holding member bearssagainst i the' top-of 'the 'retaining ring carried thereby,

forcing the same idownwardly about the'cap and. spreading the holding members still further apart. Continued movement of thex'plunger m forces-the retaining ring well down over the cap and insures the proper. seating of both the'lcap the-"operating rod permits the plunger to be cation, tilting, or misalignment of the retaining and retaining ring. In order toprevent dislo- Figs6-and '7 with interlocking arms or teeth :F which engage so as to insure simultaneous and equal movement, of both or 'all of the holding members outwardly and uniform engagement -of the inclined shoulders E With the retaining ring in applying the same to the receptacle. I

"The holding members, if notrestrained from l dropping back into engagement with the closure and receptacle after the closure has beenapplied, would strip the retaining ring -and cap from the bottle-or would raise the -bottle with serves to force the holdingmembersinto engagement with the adjacent face of the-plunger to frictionally retain the holding membersinz-kis their outspread position. When the plunger is "raised, the holding members are moved back into position to receive and hold another cap and another retaining ring by means of the inclined shoulders H which engage the lower'iQiO face of themembers M carried by the guide qu. With this arrangement, the cap and re- [taining ring are moved downwardly with the plunger and any-tilting of the retaining rings is overcome by the action of the inclined stir- :855

faces 'E of the holding members-in' 'positioning the same uponthe receptacle. Upon engaging the top of the bottle, the holding mem'bersare moved outwardly to deposit the cap upon the bottle and the -retaining ring "is 'forced down- 60 about the cap, afiixing the same to the-bottle. The plunger can then move freely upwardly I with the holding members in their outs-pread position without danger or stripping "the cap and; retaining ring from the bottle and -Wlth'0'lli'i5i65 danger 'of raising the bottle therewith. The

engagement of the inclined shoulders H of the *holding members subsequently returns-these L members into position to again receive and'hold a closure and retaining ring so-that the ation may be repeated immediately." 7

InfFig; 11, I have illustrated an alternative oper WO =form of plunger provided with aspring pressed member J which upon engagement with :the top of the *closure -is retarded whilethe plunger-comb? I tinues to descend, thereby contracting thespring and moving the member J upwardly with.

respect to'the plunger. The member J' is provided with inclined surfaces D. engaging co operating inclinedsurfaces on the holding members D. to force the same outwardly so astorelease the cap and retaining ring before, the plunger is again moved upwardly. The holding members areretracted by engagement with.

' the spring as the plunger is raised. r

In order to expand the caps prior to applying the same, I have shown in Fig.6 a longitudinally movable rod Z extending downwardly through the plunger into position to engage the center of the top of the cap to open the same.

.When the plunger is raised, therod Z is held upward bymeans of a fulcrum carried bythe connection ybetween the operating rod land 1 the plunger.

The fulcrum engages a, pivoted arm Z to which the rod Z is secured and-the ing rings. g closures and the retaining rings to project inwardlybeneath the edge of the plunger, and unless these are subsequently forced back into; their respective channels, they will interfere with the downward movement thereof. Furopposite end. of the rod Z is forced downwardly by engagement withthe abutment Z" so as to hold the rodZ in raised position. A light spring Z! is positioned about the rod Z and urges the same downwardly uponthe. downward movement of the plunger. Thus, as the plunger descends, the rod Z projeotsbelow the bearing surfaceof the plunger and is brought into en-. gagement with thetop of the cap asit is ap- In this Way the cap isexpanded after the plunger begins its down-- plied to the receptacle.

ward movement and immediately prior to the application of the cap to the receptacle. The spring 2 is of such strength that it does not interfere with the subsequent contracting of the cap upon the movement of the retaining ring and the plunger into engagement with the cap.

e As shown the plunger by succeeding closures and. retain- It is therefore necessary for the thermore, if theplunger were circular in cross section, the retaining rings-and closures would i have to be moved backward a considerable distance to permit free movement of the plunger.

Therefore I prefer to form the sides of the plunger with flat or cut out portions which permit the closures and retainingirings to project inwardly a considerable distance. The flattened sides of the plunger-also serve to prevent rotation of the plunger and insures proper alignment of the parts. .It is necessary to retract the closures and retaining rings .to some extent,

however, and for this purpose I provide cam- I members K secured to the lower. portion of the plunger to move the closures and retaining rings backward away from theplunger as the plunger descends. Since the closures are of smaller diameter than the retaining rings, .the plunger moving downward would engage the top of the 'closure' rather than the side thereof, so that an ordinary cam surface such .7 as that used for.

forcing back the retaining rings would not serve to displace the closures but would engage'the top thereof and jam just as though no cam were employed. For thisreason. I employ a special form of cam as shown inFig; 13, in which the leading edge thereof isprovided with a cut out portion K which contacts with the closure at In this channel and away fromthe plunger to permit free downward movement thereof. As shown in Fig. 8, the closures extend such a distance .into. the space within the guide that the closures would tip over and jam between the plunger and the guide if not supported, and therefore I provide the supporting members M,

which not only serve to support the closures and retaining rings, but. are extended completely around'the plunger and provide means for returningthe holding members to their retracted position, as more fully described above.

The channels s and s are provided with pivoted lugs N which are adapted 'to extend through openings in, the top of the channels to prevent the closures and retaining rings from being fed into the holding members when it is desired to operate the apparatus for test or repair purposes. Y

Eitherthe hand operated form of the apparatus shownin-Figs. 1, 2 and .3, or the power driven apparatus shown in Figs. 4 to 14 may be used for, applyingcaps alone without retaining rings, or for applying retaining rings to recepis. expanded prior to positioning the same on the in Fig. 8, the closures or caps and- .retaining rings aremoved into position beneath receptacle and thereafter is pressed firmly against the top of the receptacle bythe plunger.

contract upon the receptacle while the packing is under compression. The apparatus thus ensures the proper'application of the cap and tight sealing of the receptacle irrespective of whether retaining rings are also appliedor not;

The application of retaining rings to cappe receptacles involves only the feeding of a ring and the positioning of the sameon the receptacle by the relative movement of the plunger and receptacle, the operationbeing similar to that which takes place in applying both the ring and a cap atthe same time.

. It will be. apparent from the foregoing description of typical embodiments of my invention that I have provided simple and inexpensive means and a novel method for applying closures 'toreceptacles, and certain of the features theremy invention tobe limited to the particular constructionsz: illustrated? and; described herein .ex-

cept: as defined -by*the ,;claims.

Iiclaim: v 1. Apparatus .foriapplyingrto a receptacle a 55;. closurezthatc isadapted to: be expandedand contracted iniapplying and removingthersame comprising: lneanaior supporting a receptacle, means. fors'supporting a closure in position to be appliedxto the receptacle, means; for bringing the closure and: receptacle. into. engagement to apply; the closure to the receptacle, andmeans movable with respect to. the closure to engage: the. top thereof andiexpand the same priorto' applying the closure .to the. receptacle.

:3 2...App'aratus" for"applying.to a receptacle a closure that is adapted to be contracted and expanded in applying and.- removing: the same comprising-means for supporting a closure above a receptacle, aplunger movable into engagement 205. with the closure to apply. the same to a recepta-cle', and means 'movable with respect to the receptacle to engage the closure and. expand the sameeprior to applyingthe closure to'a receptacle."

5.; 3; Apparatus for applying to a receptacle a closure that is adapted to be contracted and expanded in applyi-rig'and removingth'e same comprising means for-supporting, a closure above a receptacle,- a plunger positioned above said closure and movable into engagement with the closure to apply the closure to areceptacle, and meanscarried by the plunger andmovable with respect theretoitoengage the closure and ex pand-the same prior to applying the closure-to 355: a receptacle, Y

4.-Apparatus' for applying to a'receptacle a closure that is adapted to be contracted and expandedin applying and removing the same comprising means for S11pp0rting'a closure in 40; position to' beapplied to a receptacle, a plungerpositio n'ed above said closure and movable downwardly into engagement with said closure to apply the same to a receptacle, and means for expanding said closure prior to applying the same to a receptacle, said plunger having means serving tocontract said closureafter it has been positioned on therecepta'cle 5. Apparatus for applyingto a receptacle a closure that is adapted to be contracted and,

sottexpanded ,'in-' applying and removing the same comprising a member having means carried thereby for expanding "a closure: prior to a'pplication ofthe closure to a receptacle; and means.

forfcontractingsa'id .closure. after ithas. been 55aaiipli'ed to a receptacle. 3 Apparatusior applying to a receptacle a closure that is adapted to' be contracted andi V expanded in applying and removing' the same comprising aplunger, means carried by the floit zplunge'r for-expanding the closure prior to applying. the closure to a receptacle'and means.

also carried .by] the plunger movableinto' engagement. with the closure to contract the' same. I '7. Apparatus/for. applying to alreceptaclez a fifiitclosure. whichmis-adapted to be contracted and expanded .in applying and removing the same,.

comprising. a member .for supporting a closure,

means forisupporting..a.,retaining ring for .the' closure and means acting successivelyto exj 7(' pand.sai.d.-c1osure prior .to applying the 'sameto a receptacle and to apply said ring't'o the closure. 8..Apparatus..f or. applying to a receptacle a closure and a retaining ring comprisinga plunger, means for moving a-closure into position 75 beneath said plunger, means for moving said prior to aflixing the-closure to a receptacles" plunger and closure T together... into engagement:

with a-receptaclemtorbe;sealed...and; meanmcare-r adapted .upon' engagement with the receptacle-5.1552 to spread outwardly :and deposit theclosure o'nn V the receptacle; .means: to: retain :the holding members xin; their. spread position when fthe plungeris raised 'andim eans on'saidiguideflfor engaging. the holding members" to return the 20 'fi same to their closed position:- to; receive land hold anotherclosure member. 3

10. Apparatus for applyingutoca receptacle-a closure. that is adapted to be contracted and-ex! panded in applying and removing th'e"samezcom -25 prising a plunger, holding members f'or 'engaging and holdinga closure beneath saidplungs er and expanding means movable-into enga'g 5 ment with the closure while theaclcsure is held? by said members to expand the-closure prim te 306-;

afiixing the closure to a receptacle;

11. Apparatus for applying to 4 areceptacle aclosure that is adapted-tonbe contracted am-expanded in applyingand"removing the same com prising aplunger; expanding-means carried by 356* said plunger and holding members f0r'-'receivin'gand holding a closure beneath-said plungerysaid expanding means being-movable-with.respectto said plunger to engage and expand said closure 12."Apparatus-iforapplying to a receptacle a closure that is" adapted to be-contracted andfl expanded in applying andremoving' the same comprising a vertically' movable plunger, an ex-"- panding member carried by said-plunger hold ing members for receiving and holding aclo sure in position beneath said plunger, feed mechfanism adaptedto introduce a closure'intothe" holding members-when the plungerffisfinyiits raised position, a spring urging the expanding/cc member into engagementwith the closure'to": expand the same prior. to-afiixing' the closure on" a receptacle, and means preventinggoperation of said expanding means until the plunger" is:; moved downwardly fromsaid raised position.

" 13. Apparatus for applying toa receptacle'a";

closure- -and -a retaining ring comprisingfla'.

plunger, feed mechanism for feeding a; closure i anda retaining ring, into position beneathgsaid plunger'with the. retaining ring. above theficlol-i; sure, andmeans for moving, said plunger intct: engagement with'said'closure and ringjto aflix, theclosure to a receptacle. I t f i 14.. Apparatus for applying. to. a receptacle a closure and a retaining ring comprising, a, 651 2 plunger, holding members carried bysaid iungg; er, and means forfeedingto said lioldingm'eme i bers. a closure andia retaining ring'in superposed positions with the retaining ringabove the.clojsure, and means for moving.,s'aid.iplungenintolflo engagement with said, closure andfretaining, ringj 'to afiixth'e same to a receptacle 15.. ,The method 1 rapplying... to. a meat-1e: 1s a closure that is adapted 'to' be contracted and" expanded in applying and removing the same V which comprises moving a closure'and retaining ring in spaced relation into position to apply the same to a receptacle, expanding the closure while moving the same into said posi- 1 tion, placing the closure on the receptacle'and moving theretaining ring into engagement with the expanded closure to contract the same and ailixgthe closure to the receptacle.

16. Device for closing vessels, more particularly bottlesjwith expansible caps and'r'etaining rings surrounding thesecaps, comprising a frame for supporting. the vessel, means on the frame for successively. applying the cap and the ring, holding'members adapted to spread apart for holding a finished Fcap above the vessel to be closed and a finished ringin-a concentric position over:the cap, and means on the holding members for opening the'same by the vessel to be-closedfoi"the'release of the expansible cap and the retaining ring. 7 r V c 17. Device for closing vessels, more particularly bottles, with expansible caps" and retaining ringssurrounding these caps, comprising a frame forsupporting the vessel, a plunger for applying the expansible cap to the vessel and a furtherv plunger surrounding the aforesaid plunger for applying the retaining ring to the cap already -applied to the vessel, .and holding membersadapted tobe spread apart for holding a finished cap over the vesselto be closed and a finished retaining-ring 'in'a concentric position over the cap, and means on the holding members,

cap over the vessel to be closed and a finished ring in a concentric position over the cap, and inclined shoulders on the holding members for opening the same-by-the'vessel to be closed for the release of the cap and the'ring.

19. Device foreclosing vessels, more'particularly bottles, with expansible caps and retaining rings, surrounding these caps, comprising a frame for supporting-the-vessel, a plunger for applying the cap to the vessel and a further plunger.

surrounding the aforesaid plunger for applying the ring to the cap already applied to the vessel, positively connected holding members adapted to be spread apart for holding concentrically a finished cap over-the vessel to ,beclosed and a finished-ringina concentric position over the cap; the holding members being arranged on the second-named plunger, inner downwardly inclined and outwardlyextending shoulders 'on the holding members for opening the same by the yessel to be closedfor the releaseof the expansiblecap andthe retaining ring and an elastic brakeQdevicefor holding the holding members inthe-open'position. o 7 J :20. Device for closing vessels, more particularly bottles, with-expansiblecaps and retain ring rings surrounding these caps, comprising a frame for supporting the vessel, a plunger for applying the cap-tothef vessel and a further plunger surrounding theflaforesaid plunger for applying the ringito the cap already applied connected holding members. adapted to be spread apart for holding a finished to the bottle, positively connected holding members adapted to bespread'apart for holding concentrically a finished cap over the vessel to be closed and a finished ring in a concentric position'over' the'cap, the holding members being arranged on the second-named plunger, inner downwardly inclined 1 and outwardly extending shoulders on the holding members for opening .the same .by the vessel to be closed for the release of the'cap and the ring, an

elastic brake device 1 for holding the holding members in the open position,xfurther outer downwardly inclined and outwardly extending shoulders on the holding members for. closing the same and a guide for .the outer plunger acting 'onthe said outer-downwardly inclined;

and outwardly extending shoulders for closing the holding member's. r v

21; Device for"clos'ing-vessels, more particularly bottles, with expansible caps, and retainingrings surrounding these caps comprising a frame for supporting the vessel, a plunger for' applying the cap to-the vessel by pressure on the expansible cap at the moment of placing same upon the vessel and a further plunger surrounding the aforesaid ram for applying the retaining ring to the cap already applied to the vessel, positively connected holding members'adapted to be spreadapart for holding concentrically a finished cap over the vessel to be closedand afinishedring in a concentric position over the cap, the holding members being arranged on the second-named plunger, inner downwardly inclined and outwardly extending shoulders on the holding members for opening the same by the vessel 'to be closed for the release of the cap and the ring,- an elastic brake device; for holding the holding members in the open position, further outer downwardly inclined and'outwardly extending shoulders on the holding members for closing the same and a guidefor-the outer plunger acting on thesaid outer downwardlyinclined and outwardly extending shoulders for closing the holding members. r

22. Device ularly bottles, with expansible caps and retaining rings surrounding these caps, comprising a frame for supporting thevessel, a spring-fitted plunger for applying the cap to the vessel by pressure on the cap at the moment of placing same upon the vessel and a further plunger surrounding'the aforesaid plunger for applying the ring to the cap already applied to the rvessel, positively connected holding members adapti ed to be spread apart for holding concentrically a'finished-cap overthe vessel to be closed and a finished ring inv a, concentric position,

over the cap,: the holdingrmembers being 'arranged on the second 'named' plunger, inner open, position, further outer downwardly in clined and outwardly, extending shoulders on for closing vessels, more particthe'holding members for closing the same and V a guide for the outer plunger acting on the aforesaid outer downwardly inclined and outwardly extending shoulders for closing the holding members.

RUDOLF REMY. 

